Land line puts Ellis on cloud nine

Matt Ellis had an interesting adventure on Monday afternoon. He had his cell phone on "vibrate," so he didn't hear Ken Holland or Griffins GM Bob McNamara call to let him know he was expected in Columbus:

December 20, Detroit Free Press: "We got in around 3 in the morning from Milwaukee last night," Ellis said after Monday's game. "Slept in a little bit. Got a phone call around noon, and I had my cell phone still on vibrate because I was a little tired."

He found out about the cell-phone messages later. "It was Jim that I actually talked to and got the news," Ellis said.

He quickly packed and went straight to the airport for a flight to Columbus.

"I've been working my whole life to get this opportunity," said Ellis, a 25-year-old native of Welland, Ontario. "Words can't explain how excited I was and how honored I was tonight to put that jersey on and play with some of these guys. It was an amazing feeling."

The transition wasn't difficult:

December 20, Macomb Daily: "The one nice thing is that I've had the opportunity to attend training camps in the past and play in some preseason games," said Ellis.

"Down in Grand Rapids, we try to play the same system as we do up top. Those are just things that I didn't really think about much. I just came in tonight and I knew I'd be running high on emotions. I just wanted to come out and play solid hockey."

Ellis played on a line with Valtteri Filppula and Jiri Hudler. The trio were teammates in Grand Rapids last season.
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"It's always nice when you come in to see some familiar faces," said Ellis. "It makes the transition a little easier."